Snap switch



May 18,1926. 1,585,143

E. M. GLASGOW SNAP SWITCH Original Filed Feb. 9 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w m ss $1 was: m

gave/"01 fmesf M G/asgo w May 18 1926.

E. M. GLASGOW SNAP SWITCH 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 9,

anoemtoz [mesfMGhsgow imimv May 18,1926. 1 1,585,143

E. M. GLASGOW S NAP S WITCH Originallfiled Feb. 9, 1924 4 SheetsSheet 3 vwentoz f/"nesf M G/asgow- May 18 1926.

E. M. GLASGOW SNAP SWITCH Original Filed Feb. 9 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 18, 1926.

UNETE STA EE PA E F E- COM Original application filed February 9,

tsss ie LASQ'OW', OF, TOWAGO, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 RUSSELL & swam,

PANY, ornnw YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK.

SNAP SWITCH.

My inyention relates to elect "ic switches and more particularly to v t i. p syn ch mechanism wherein the snap switch spring 13; normally substantially Withc oi'istruction,

th switch dii I up of acting arm is held locked during the the sp ii g, ssidlatch devices for inoyei cnt the switch arm in either direction.

The oh ect also is to so construct the snap switch niechsn ism that the switch Will be positively locked in each of its positions and yet the niechsh s d produce the snap s lei er or s iny or rmiry 9th, 1

esent tic tch ar d enclosure of which s it divis on.

isin Will be ready function action when the operhsft'is turned. By this posilocking an ace 1 ntal nioyeinent of the 2 tch by a severe knock or is prevented.

The novel censtructioii sn: 1 s x;

to described end claimed is itch set forth in il application for patent filed Feb Serial h-o. 69h606 for safety present invention relates more periy to the snzip syvitcht ction and consists in the improved construction and de tens hereinafter set forth wherein the fee-- tures and general obgects above SQt lTOItll are rited.

in the r 1 shows uii ted I .te which is s at side elevation of the,

on the under side f drawings the apparatus -i he mechanism,

rzihly equi 1g. 3 is an end eleyation.

4-. is 3 plan oi the insulating plate as pped with fuse clips andcontircts lifter the manner descrihed end Claimed in my original applicatienl 5 a vertical section of Fig". ion the 1 r' r line -1).

1 indicates the switch box, 2 the cover pivoted for his held down by side (see Figs shaft shown at tzinee at 3 on one side and a clamp nut l at the other .1 and 2). The operating is provided with a handle and inay he turned by the latter in either direction, to throw-the SWlt-Cll fronflon? to off Q1 ice 3 IE3, Said shaft mounted 1924;, Serial No. 691,606, Divided and this application filed October 213, 1924. Serial No. 145,270.

to be, capable of turning in suitable bearings consisting for instance of bosses 5 projectmg froin the inner face of the Wall of the casing. Between said bearings 5" the shaft is nioiinte'd and turns iii 2! pair of brackets 5 which depend from a plate or frame 9 secured to the lower face of an insulating slate oi} otherha se il. Shirl base 9 is suitably ported by lugs or other means within the ca; gig at a point preferably hel'oiv and sufficiently reinoyed 1-13 the top edge thereof to sffordspace'fer the fuse rind fuseclips support d directly thereon and carries on its. under fztceallfof the switch contacts of the sharp switch together with the switch blades or similar nieinhers co-operating therewith and lllimiiS-Q the snap switch inech ahisin to he p: tly described.

"lhe switch a hi or arms supporting blades of the sw'i h consist preferably of ii pair of arms ll suitablyfulcrunied to he ole of turning independentiy of the Eactuated'sheft in the pr nt inssid' :trins fer compactness and shjn plicity' of structure, .lcriuned on the shaft 5itself between the lime ets and 0 said firms are conneeted by a Cress member or rod 11 to insure the rigidity theTsW-itch arrn thns constructed.

V The switch blades of any desired number are i idichted zit?! These are bolted or secured in 'any ether suitable insnner to the sides of the EJ'Ill 11 and are insulated from one another and from the holtsor studs supper i'liQSillflE in the Well. known manner iings, disks and spacers or by other e means. The contacts with which des co-eperete to close the circuit in ted zit-8 and comprise preferably ps1 ct s each pair of which projects from of metal properly secured to the up. 1 of the insulating plate 9 so that tl .e pairs of springs yi'ill project downwe 7dl from saidbese. The switch blades 7 enter between the pairs of springs S'to close the jrcuit. These ineinbers 8' end '7 not after the manner of the l life blades and spring contacts of the ordin ry knife switch.

From the shaft 5 projects an arm 12 keyed to the shaft 5 and pivotally connected to or linked up with a link 13 the pivotal connection or pivot pin being extended laterally as indicated at 13. (SeeFig. 1.) The linkv13 terminates in or carries a cross pin 1% which engages slots 15 in the sgitch arms 11. These slots 15 are elongated in a direction to permit limited lost motion of the link 12-3 and operating shaft 5 when the latter is turned by the operating handle. The pin 14: is coupled to the switch arm by tngagcinent with the sides of the slot and acts as a (log to hold the switch arm 11 from movement under the influence of the snap action spring while the spring is being put under tension as will be presently described, said dog for this purpose co-operating with a suitable stop from which it is disengaged under the action of the turning movement of the shaft 5 in winding up the snap action spring.

The stop device consists of a pair of stop latches 19, 19 one of which holds the dog and s itch arm 11 temporarily when the shaft 12 is turned to open the switch, while the other acts on the reverse movement whereby the switch is closed. The snap action spring is indicated at 16 and is wound around the main operating shaft 5. The tension of the spring is materially increased by movement of the shaft in either direction. The free extremities of the spring are operatively connected respectively with the switch arm 11 in any desired way to act respectively on the same in opposite directions. Thus, for instance, one free end thereof may hook on top of one of the pair of switch arms 11 to move them in one direction while the other free end hooks underneath one of said arms and is thereby operatively connected with the compound switch arm to actuate said arm in the opposite direction.

The winding up action of the spring is secured by en agement of the ends of the pin 18 therewith. One end of said pin engages the spring on its upper side and the other engages it on its under side. As will be obvious, the turning of the arm 12 secured to the shaft 5 in a downward direction, for instance, will wind up one end of the spring by engagement of one end of pin 13 with the top side of the spring, while the other end of the spring being hooked on top of the switch arm will apply the snap spring action to the arm 11 when the arm is released by disengagementof the dog from the stop or catch. with which it is engaged until withdrawn from engagement by the movement thereof in the slot inward toward the shaft by the action of the link 13. The other end of pin 13 engaging under the opposite end of the spring will, on turning of the shaft in the opposite direction, wind up said end while the opposite end which hooks under the arm will throw it in the opposite direction when the arm is released by disengagement of the pin or dog 141 from the lat h or stop which normally opposes the intwement until, in the winding up movement of the shaft, said dog has been drawn inward tow rd the shaft away from engagement with said stop or latch. The stop or latch devices engaged by the dog 14 are two in number and are preferably constructed and mounted as follows z- A fixed support for the same comprises preferably the fixed bracket or yoke 1? which ma be cast in one piece with or properly secured to the supporting plate 9 and projects in a downward direction from the insulating plate 9, as shown. These latches or stops consist of a pair of shouldered plates 19, 19, the former of which is pivotaliy supported between the arms of they yoke or bracket 17 near the lower end thereof, while the other plate 19 is mounted on a pivot or pivotal support extending between the arms of the bracket near the upper end thereof, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The plates 19, 19 are adapted to swing freely and independently of one another in said fixed bracket or yokel'? andare connected to one another by a sprin 18 which normally tends to project the latches into position so that the dog 14 will engage and be locked by one or the other of them as shown in the case of latch 19. One of said latches, to wit, the latch 19, looks the dog 14 while the spring is being wound up preparatory to a throwing of the switch to open position, while the other latch or stop 19 similarly locks the dog and switch arm during the winding up action of the spring by the shaft 5 preparatory'to the movement of the switch to closed position. A pin 20 supported in the yoke 17 passes transversely through an opening in the latches 19, 19 and serves as a stop pin to limit their motion under the action of the spring 18. When the dog is disengaged from the shoulder of the latch or stop by which it is locked, it

passes freely over the inclined side of the other latch until it reaches position to permit the latch to spring out so that the shoulder thereof will pass over the dog 14: and the latter will be thereafter locked by said latch until the dog is again withdrawn from looking position.

As described and claimed in my prior ap plication the top of theinsulating plate ma carry pairs of springs 8 which are mounted upon and project up vardly from the'base 9 and constitute clips for the fuses 8". These clips 8 are suitably connected with the bases of the double contacts 8, as will be presently described, and in such manner that when the switch is' operated to disconnect the service or local line from the main line, both fuse terminals will be also disconnected so that the fuses may be then removed and a new fuse substituted without danger of shock from leakage back from the local or service line in case the service line may have become crossed" with some other line or cir applies. ion oy reason of the fact t t they project from the under side only of the in dating plate 9 and are not in any manner d when the cover 2 of the box is removed for the purpose of substituting a fuse.

The drawing Fig. 2 shows the s vitch in closed position. The turning of the handle shaft to throw the switch arm to off position winds up the snap action spring 16 and finally withdraws the dog 14- from locking position on the shoulder of the latch 19. 'lhereiiipon the switch arm is thrown by the action of the spring which is being placed under tension while winding up one end thereof. The switch now assumes the off position indicated in dotted lines and the dog la is loclred under the shoulder of the other latch. A reverse movement of the shaft by the handle 6 to close the switch now winds up the opposite end of the spring until during the winding movement, the dog has been pulled in toward the shaft sufficiently to be disengaged from the shoulder of the second latch 19 whereupon the spring, by engaging under the switch. arm by its opposite hooked end, throws the arm back to the closed position.

Secured in the bottom of the boX 1 is a slate or other insulating base on which are mounted connecting blocks 31, 31", for attachment of the main line or service or. local cables. From these blocks extend the interior cables 32, 32 whose free ends beneath the slate base 9 are fastened to the conducting blocks which carry respectively the various line and service contacts 8 of the knife switch, said blocks being attached to the under side of the slate base 9 and having the spring contacts 8 projecting therefrom downwardly away from the base. One of the two openings in the end of the box through which the main lineand local cables may be introduced for attachment to the connecting blocks 31, 31 is indicated a 38. For convenience of attachment, the connecting cables 32 within the box are used as the main line connecting cables and the cables 32 as connecting cables from the local or service line, although a reverse arrangement might be employed using the connections 32 as the local or service line connections. Assuming that the latter are used as the main line connections and the cables 3.4 as the service line connections, the connection to the various switch contacts may be made by attachment of the cable ends to the blocks carrying said switch contacts in the order or arrangement indicated in Fig. at where the various switch contacts at one end of the slate base and rising therefrom are located 0") osite one of the,

two contacts 8 at the same end of the base and are in immediate connection therewith through the screws or bolts 3% which fasten tire base blocksv for said contacts and clips to the opposite face respectively of the slate base. 9. At the other end of the slate, base 9, fuse clips 8 are fastened directly to the upper face of the base by the screws 84. Connection is establishedbetween them and the contacts 8 with which the blades 7 cooperate to close the connection from the main line terminal switch contacts 8, by means of straps fastened by means of the screws 3e under the block from which the fuse clip rises, and at the other-end fastened down upon the upper face of the block by 1 a screw 36 which extends through the base and fastens. the local or service line switch contact 8 to the under surface of the slate base.

The connection thus established through the switch contacts, the blades, fuse clips and the fuses may bev readily traced by the arrows and the result of the arrangement is that when the blades each sever connection with its pair of contacts 8, not only is the connection between the main line and the local or service line interrupted at two points but the fuse clips. 8 are disconnected from both the main line and the service or local line thereby permitting the fuses to be substituted without danger. Moreover, inasmuch as all the main line and service line contacts of the switch are arranged on the under side of the base 9 and project downwardly therefrom there is no possibility of contact therewith by the hand of the operator.

The features last described form the subject of claims in my prior application.

What I claim as my invention, i::-

1. In a snap switch, the combination with a switch arm, of an operating shaft, a link connected with the arm by lost motion and provided with a dog, an arm extending. from the shaft and adapted to move said link with lost motion, a spring acting on the arm and normally restrained from operation by said dog and a catch adapted to hold the dog and arm against movement until the dog performs lost motion under the action of the operating shaft.

2. In a snap action switch, the combinm,

tion of a pivoted switch arm, a dog-carrying link engaging the arm with lost motion, an, operating shaft having an arm connected with the link and two catches mounted on a fixed support and having dog-engaged shoulders reversely arranged by which the.

switch arm maybeheld in either oniior off position and, in itsmovement from one,

position to the other after being freed by release of the dog from the shoulder of one catch, may pass to position for engagement of the dog on the shoulder of the other catch.

3. In a snap action switch, the combination of a pivoted switch arm, a link provided with a dog engaging said arm with lost motion, an operating shaft having an arm connected with the link, and two catches mounted on a fixed support and having dog-engaged shoulders reversely arranged by which the switch arm may be held in either on or off position and, in its movement from one position to the other after being freed from the shoulder of one catch, may automatically pass to position for engagement on the shoulder of the other catch.

4c. In a snap action switch, the combination of a pivoted switch arm, a link provided with a dog engaging said arm with lost motion, an operating shaft having an arm connected with the link, and two catches mounted on a fixed support and having dogengaged shoulders reversely arranged by which the switch arm may be held in either on or off position and, in its movement from one position to the other after being freed from the shoulder on one catch, may automatically pass to position for engagement on the shoulder of the other catch, said catches being pivoted to move independently of one another on a fixed support and being connected with one another by a spring operating to move the catches into position for engagement of the dog with their shoulders.

5. In a safety switch, the combination of a switch, an operating shaft provided with a handle, an arm extending from said shaft, a link pivotally connected to said arm and provided with a dog having lost motion connection with the switch, an automatic catch for engagen'ient with said dog to hold the switch against movement, a spring operatively connected to said switch and means connected to the operating shaft for winding said spring in the act of moving the dog from engagement with the catch.

6. In a snap switch, the combination of a contact carrying switch arm, a dog normal- 1y holding said switch arm against movement carried by and movably mounted on said switch arm, a stop for said dog, an operating shaft carrying a handle, means connected with the operating shaft for moving said dog from engagement with its stop to permit the arm to move, a coiled spring coiled around said handle-carrying shaft and engaged at its two free ends respectively with opposite sides of the contact carrying switch arm and means acting on opposite ends of said spring respectively on movements of the operating shaft in opposite directions to wind said sprin 7. In a snap switch, the con'ibination of an operating shaft provided with a handle, a switch arm fulcrumed on said shaft, a spring coiled on said shaft and adapted to act upon said arm in opposite directions and move the. same, an arm extending from the shaft, a dog linked to said arm for freeing the switch arm and releasing it to the action of the spring when the shaft is turned and means connected with the shaft for putting said sprii'ig under tension upon movement of the shaft in either of the directions of movement imparted to the same for the purpose of opening or closing the switch.

8. In a snap switch, the combination of a slotted switch arm, switch blades mounted thereon, a spring connected at both ends to the arm and adapted to act upon said arm in opposite directions and move the same, a dog engaged directly with the slot in the arm, a

stop for said dog, an operating shaft and means for moving the dog in the slot to free it from the stop and at the same time putting said spring under tension upon the movement of the shaft in either of the directions of movement imparted to the same for the purpose of opening or closing the switch.

9. In a snap action electric switch, the combination with a rock shaft, a pivoted switch arm carrying the switch blades and provided with a slot, a dog engaging in the slot of said arm and thereby oncrativeiy connected therewith, a stop with which said dog is normally engaged to restrain the switch arm from movement, a spring operatively engaged with the switch arm, means for putting tension on the spring by a rocking movement of the shaft and means operatively coni'iecting said shaft and deg for moving the same in the slot during the winding of the spring to move the dog in the slot in a direction to disengage it from the stop.

10. In a snap action switch, the combination of a slotted switch arm and switch blades carried thereby, a dog working in said slot, a stop engaged by said pin, a spring engaged with the switch arm and a rock shaft operatively connected to the swing to put the same under tension and means for operatively connecting the shaft with the dog to move the dog in the slot of the switch arm in the action of putting the spring under tension.

11. In a snap action switch, the combination of a switch arm, dog operatively engaged with the arm to restrain it from movement and movably mounted thereon, -a

latch engaged by the dog, a spring opera-' tively connected with the switch arm and means for placing said spring under tension to operate the arm and at the same time actuate the dog to move it on the arm and disengage it from the latch.

12. In a snap action switch, the combinamini and means for placing said spring un der tension to operate the arm and at the same time actuate the dog; to move it on the anti and disengage it from the latch.

-3. In a snap action switch, the c01nhination out a switch a 'in, a dog operativeiy engaged with the arm to restrain it from movement and movably mounted thereon, a pair of latches adapted to be engaged by the dog, a spring operatively connected With the switch arm and means for placing said spring under tension to operate the arm and at the same time actuate the dog to remove it from engagement With each latch.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 22nd day of October, A. D. 1924.

ERNEST M. GLASGOXV. 

